Team Building Skills: Lessons From the Nuclear Family

Companies that claim to teach team building skillsare accountable at some level for every one of
may not actually be the "kosher" companies thatyour employees.
you would want your employees influenced by.Team Building Skills Lesson #2: Specific
Heaven forbid that any company would teach youResponsibilities
"team building skills" for nothing more than "filthyEach member of many nuclear families--because
lucre", but it can happen, so how can you find theof social norms--had specific responsibilities in the
right team building skills instructor(s)/company?50s. If they were an intelligent nuclear family they
My suggestion is to look for a team building skillsalso realized that at times some members would
instructor(s)/company that will teachhave to learn the responsibilities of other
nuclear-family team building skills. Of course, youmembers in case of an emergency. There are
don't want to ask them if they offerwas often forms of discipline (usually from Mom
nuclear-family team building skills seminars andand Dad) if specific responsibilities were not
trainings because they will look at you like youfulfilled.
were a cat with an acorn in its mouth. The idea isNow, for your employees this does not mean
to secretly check on their methods andthat Mary the writer can never be trained to do a
processes and see if it fits the nuclear family bill.little of Ted's graphic design work. What it does
Read on my friends for more information:mean is that expectations are established and
What is a Nuclear Family?dates are set for assignments to be completed
I know, I know. Yes it is true! The nuclear familyby specific persons and that there are methods
is represented by that sickening 50s-type familyfor accountability.
picture that you might find on the label of yourTeam Building Skills Lesson #3: Love and Respect
baking powder can and that you only distantlyNot all nuclear families are perfect (even in the
recognize as any sort of reality. However, even a50s) but families that stick together have love
picture that some might associate with maleand respect for one another. Now, you certainly
chauvinism and or female captivity/confinementdon't have to love your co-workers but it couldn't
might have a few lessons to teach our omniscienthurt to find a team building skills company that will
21st century minds.teach youyou're your employees methods of
Team Building Skills Lesson #1: Everybody Sticksshowing great respect for each other. One
Togethermethod could include really considering the positive
Let's face it. In the 50s divorce simply wasn't asattributes and characteristics of your co-workers
readily available---or acceptable-as it is today.who would in most cases generally just drive you
Women, who in the majority, lacked forms ofcrazy. Respect is very tangible to the heart. If
higher education and valuable work force trainingyou find a team building skills company that can
relied on their husbands for support and menhelp lead you and your team to better respect,
didn't seem to demand divorces at the timethen you have probably found a winner.
either. Many 50s families simply had the mentalityTeam Building Skills Lesson #4: Spending "Fun
that they were together for life and that was theTime" Together
way it was going to be.I think we all imagine nuclear families spending
Now, when it comes to your employees, let'sjoyful quality time together. You might think it's
hope they WON'T be together for the rest ofcrazy to get socially involved with your
their lives. However there is a valuable teamco-workers but I highly recommend looking for a
building skills lesson that your employees couldteam building skills professional who encourages
learn from the nuclear family. The idea is that"fun time" spent away from work together. It
every one should be willing to bend just a bit sodoesn't have to be a lot of time spent together;
that the company itself can stick together in unity.even 4 or 5 times a year would most likely be
For example, if you will only receive managerialsufficient. I HAVE seen from practical experience
training for yourself and not for your employees,that fun can make a company grow stronger.
then make sure that those offering the trainingTeam building skills never have to be a mystery
have methods that they can teach you that willbut someone who has experience initiating the
help you get every person talking and contributingchanges in attitude that many employees need to
to the goals that you have for your company. Asexperience real team building skills can be a very
a manager, this is your responsibility, since youvaluable asset.